Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Cherry 2000 Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov January 15, 2025

Steve De Jarnatt's "Cherry 2000" (1987) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include new program with Steve De Jarnatt and collaborators; two audio commentaries; new programs; deleted and extended scenes; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

The wastelands

Steve De Jarnatt’s directorial debut, Cherry 2000, takes its audience on a journey to a future where romance -- the good, old-fashioned kind -- no longer exists. Here, men and women prearrange their dates and get exactly what they want when they commit to a relationship. There is no room for improvising, and pleasure, in its purest form, is a big business. For men who do not have the time or desire to prearrange their intimate lives, there are other options, like Cherry 2000, an elegant replicant that looks like a supermodel and does all the things men expect women to do when they are in a relationship with them.

Sam Treadwell (David Andrews, Wyatt Earp) is in a perfect relationship. He owns a lovely Cherry 2000 (Pamela Gidley, Thrashin') that cleans his home, cooks for him, and is always in a mood for sex. He is happy and very much in love with his replicant.

But Sam’s life is turned upside down when the replicant shorts out and he discovers that the Cherry 2000 line is no longer in production. A shady dealer offers to sell Sam a newer model, but he refuses to upgrade and instead decides to enter the dangerous Zone 7 where he could pick up a used Cherry 2000 from a massive junkyard. Shortly after, Sam hires the sexy tracker E. Johnson (Melanie Griffith, Working Girl) to lead him to Zone 7 and help him get out of it alive.

Cherry 2000 is a good film to see very late at night, when the mind prefers to quickly process information and relax rather than carefully analyze it. It is the only time when its story could make some sense.

The influence of George Miller's Mad Max: The Road Warrior is felt right from the opening credits. Obviously, De Jarnatt had a much smaller budget to work with and as a result the mass action sequences he shot are not as impressive as the ones seen in The Road Warrior, but the carefully chosen locations from Nevada’s toxic waste fields produce a very similar post-apocalyptic atmosphere.

The tone of Cherry 2000, however, is drastically different. It is perfect for an MTV-esque production targeting a slightly older audience expecting to be entertained by futuristic kitsch paired with a fair amount of arousing material, not top-quality high-octane action. For this reason, Cherry 2000 is a good film to recommend to admirers of Richard Stanley’s Hardware.

Ironically, the best material is free of sizzling sex and action. It is the outdoor footage, virtually all of which comes from Nevada's desert regions. The only exception is a wild sequence shot in a diversion tunnel, somewhere near the Hoover Dam. De Jarnatt's director of photography was Jacques Haitkin.

Cherry 2000 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Cherry 2000 arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

I do not have Kino Lorber's first Blu-ray release of Cherry 2000. However, I have this Region-B release in my library. Both releases are sourced from the same older MGM master. This new two-disc set introduces a new 4K makeover of the film, sourced from its original camera negative.

I think that the new 4K makeover is excellent. I viewed it last night, and what I saw on my system was either excellent or outstanding. There were a few spots where I felt that grain exposure could have been a bit better, but this is not something that I consider to be an issue. On a large screen, all visuals looked wonderfully detailed, sharp, and very, very healthy. Depth is outstanding, too. However, you should expect to see some drops in the density levels, which will affect delineation and clarity when the Las Vegas debris emerge. This is one area where it becomes painfully obvious that the film was not shot with a massive budget. Color reproduction is outstanding. All primaries and supporting nuances are lush, healthy, and, most importantly, properly set and balanced. There is no teal or wild tinting. As a result, the entire film has a very convincing, very attractive period appearance. Image stability is excellent. My score is 4.75/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Cherry 2000 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I pulled out my Region-B Blu-ray release and compared several areas. If new remixing work was done when the new 4K makeover was prepared, it is difficult to tell. The shootouts I tested sounded identical to me. Also, the racing footage with the Mustang seemed to have the same dynamic intensity. This of course is very good news because the previous lossless track was solid. All dialog is clear and easy to follow. In a few spots, small unevenness can be noticed, but even if any enhancements were to be made, I do not think that the quality of the lossless track will be different. (For what it's worth, Kino Lorber's press information about this release indicated that a 5.1 track will be included as well).

Cherry 2000 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

BLU-RAY DISC ONE

• Commentary One - in this archival audio commentary, Steve De Jarnatt discusses the odd future world in which Cherry 2000 is set, how and where various sequences were shot (a few of the locations in Nevada had plenty of toxic waste materials and apparently were quite dangerous), The Road Warrior's influence on the film's visual style, some of the important warnings in the film about the future of our planet, etc. The commentary is moderated by Walter Chaw from FilmFreakCentral.net.

• Commentary Two - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critics Heather Buckley, Michelle Kisner and Holly Honeycutt.

• Short Films - presented here are two short films directed by Steve De Jarnatt. In English, not subtitled.
  
  1. Tarzana (1978) - Remastered. Starring Michael C. Gwynne, Eddie Constantine, Timothy Carey, Edie Adams, Pete Candoli, Reni Santoni, Charles Knapp, Kate Murtagh, Ann Dusenberry and Carel Struycken. Dolby Digital. 2.0. Without subtitles. B&W. (33 min).
  
  2. Eat the Sun. Directed by Steve De Jarnatt and Jim Cox. Dolby Digital. 2.0. Without subtitles. Color. (24 min).

• Grace for Grace - in this program, Steve De Jarnatt reads two of his award-winning stories. Audio only. In English, not subtitled. (115 min).

• Trailer One - presented here is a remastered original trailer for Cherry 2000. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Trailer Two - presented here is a remastered original trailer for Miracle Mile. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

BLU-RAY DISC TWO

• Tales From Zone 7 - An Oral History of the Making of Cherry 2000 - in this new program, Steve De Jarnatt explains how he was hired to do Cherry 2000 and discusses in great detail its production. Also contributing to his recollections are actors Sam Treadwell and Michael G. Gwynne, director of photography - special unit Chris Tufty, make up artist Valli O'Reilly, prop master Ellen Freund, and stunt artist Charlie Croughwell, amongst others. De Jarnatt also comments on the film's publicity and how it apparently hurt his reputation, as well as its new life as a cult film during the Blu-ray era. The program was produced in 2024. In English, not subtitled. (151 min).

• The Zen of Julie Weiss - in this new program, costime design consultant Julie Weiss discusses her contribution to Cherry 2000 and comments on some key themes from its narrative. Steve De Jarnatt comments, too. In English, not subtitled. (51 min).

• Cherry 2000 Storyboards - Part One - presented here are various storyboards for Cherry 2000, gathered by Marty Kline. With music. (12 min).

• Cherry 2000 Storyboards - Part Two - presented here are various storyboards for Cherry 2000, gathered by Marty Kline. With music. (12 min).

• Red Bennies Burlesque - presented here are excerpts from a nurlesque tribute show honoring Cherry 2000, which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 2013. Music only. (27 min).

• Making Cherry 2000 - presented here is an archival promotional featurette with raw footage from the shooting of Cherry 2000 in Nevada. Also included are short comments from cast members and the film's producers. In English, not subtitled. (7 min).

• Tim Thomerson Interview - in this archival program, Tim Thomerson recalls his initial impressions of the script for Cherry 2000, what it was like to work with the rest of the cast, and how specific sequences were shot in Nevada. Thomerson also discusses the visual style of the film and its cult status. In English, not subtitled. (14 min).

• From the Cutting Floor - presented here are various deleted and extended scenes, gag reel, and rare never before seen footage. In English, not subtitled. (56 min).

• Cover - a reversible cover with original vintage poster art for Cherry 2000.

Cherry 2000 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If you pick up this two-disc set of Cherry 2000, you will discover that Steve De Jarnatt is like you, a film lover who genuinely cares. De Jarnatt supervised a new 4K makeover of Cherry 2000 that is flawless, and gathered hours of excellent bonus content, new and old, to go along with it. If you decide to spend a night with Cherry 2000, make it a long one. See it late, together with Richard Stanley's Hardware. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.